Indexing and brake apparatus for rotational casting machines

ABSTRACT

In a rotational casting machine, a stop means is provided adjacent a support arm used in the casting machine for support of and rotation of the mold-carrying means, and such stop means is movable to and from engagement with the support arm. Power means are present to force the stop means to move to engage the support arm to prevent rotation thereof and to control the stop position of molds operatively carried by the support arm.

United States Patent Inventor Alden C. Boyce Stow, Ohio Appl. No.795,899

Filed Feb. 3, 1969 Patented Aug. 24, 1971 Assignee Rota-Made, Inc.

Cuyahoga Folk, Ohio INDEXING AND BRAKE APPARATUS FOR ROTATIONAL CASTINGMACHINES 6 can-,4 Drawlngflgs. I US. Cl. 18/26 RR lm. CL B29c 5/04 FieldolSearch 123/26 R, 26

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,681,472 6/1954 Rempel18/26 (R) 2.811.747 11/1957 Belz 18/26 (R) Primary Examiner-J SpencerOverholser Assistant Examiner-L. R. Frye Anomey-Oldham 8: OldhamABSTRACT: In a rotational casting machine, a stop means is providedadjacent a support am used in the casting machine for support of androtation of the mold-carrying means, and such stop means is movable toand from engagement with the support arm. Power means are present toforce the stop means to move to engage the support arm to preventrotation thereof and to control the stop position of molds operativelycarried by the support arm.

Patented Aug. 24, 1971 3,600,756

Q s Sheets-Sheet 1 a k INVENTOR.

ALDEN C.BOYCE ATTORNEYS.

Patented Aug. 24, 1911 3,600,756

- 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. ALDEN C.BOYCE M? w z ATTORNEYS.

v Patented Aug. 24, 1971 3,600,756

3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Y///////l////////l I INVENTOR. ALDEN C. BOYCEATTORNEYS.

INDEXING AND BRAKE APPARATUS FOR ROTATIONAL CASTING MACHINES The presentinvention relates to rotational casting machines, and particularly toimproved means for controlling the position of moldcarrying meansoperably associated with the double-spindle rotative support means forthe mold-carrying means in a rotational casting machine for multiaxisrotation and casting actions.

Heretofore there have been many different types of rotational castingmachines provided and it always has been a problem to stop the drive ofthese machines, and particularly the rotational support arms for themold-carrying means, so that the molds can be stopped orv positioned ina desired horizontal, vertical or other position for mold-strippingand/or mold-filling actions. While efforts have been made to-index thesemold-carrying arms in rotational casting machines, none of such priormembers, insofar as I am aware, have been fully and completelysatisfactory and have not provided the desired positive indexing actiontogether with ready control of the stop position for the mold-carryingmembers in the machine. Manual adjustment of the mold positions hasfrequently been required.

The general object of the present invention is to provide a novel andimproved indexing and/or braking means in association with a support armin a rotational casting machine to stop or lock the mold-carrying arm ina predetermined position to locate the mold means on such arm inselected positions.

Another object of the invention is to provide a powered, controllablestop means in a rotational casting machine for movement to and fromengagement with a support ann to index and/or lock the. support arm inan inoperative position for mold opening and other actions.

Another object of the invention is to index a mold support arm andassociated means in a rotational casting machine in a predeterminedposition when the support arm and mold-carrying means are substantiallyin -a predetermined desired inoperative position at the article removalstation.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a rotational castingmachine having improved mechanical properties in the means used to indexor position the mold support members on a support arm in the machinewhen such arm is inoperative; to provide an indexing machine orapparatus in a rotational casting machine to lock a mold-carrying memberin a predetennined position; and to provide relatively sturdy, easilyactuated index and/or brake means in a casting machine to improve thefunctioning and control of the individual mold support arms.

The present invention, as one embodiment thereof, relates to arotational casting machine where a plurality of support arms arejournaled on a turntable positioned by the machine frame and usuallyprotrude from the turntable. A rotatable mold support means is operablycarried by each of the support arms on axes perpendicular to the axis ofthe support arm and the machine has one article removal and mold fillingstation. The novel apparatus includes a stop means positioned adjacentthe support arm at the said station and movable to and from engagementwith such support arm. Power means are provided to control the stopmeans and forcibly move it to and from engagement with the support armfor indexing the same and/or looking it in a desired inoperativeposition.

Reference now is particularly directed to the accompanying drawings,wherein:

FlG. 1 is a fragmentary plan view of a rotary casting machine embodyingthe principles of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation taken substantially online 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an elevation of the apparatus of FIG. 2 with some membersbroken away and/or shown in section; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary vertical section, like FIG. 3, of a modificationof the apparatus of the invention.

When referring to corresponding members shown in the drawings andreferred to in the specification, corresponding numerals are used tofacilitate comparison therebetween.

The machine of the invention is particularly suited for the casting ofarticles from liquid, or powdered plastic materials that will solidifywhen heated.

In the accompanying drawings, a portion of a substantially conventionalrotational casting machine 10 is shown, and this machine 10 includes aframe 11, on which a suitable turntable 12 is journaled, as by a bearing120, and is driven by any conventional means. This turntable 12positions a plurality of support arms 13 thereon, only one of which isshown, as by a pair of spaced bearing blocks 14 and 15. Conventionaldrive means comprising a motor 16 is operably engaged with a peripheralportion of the support arm 13 as by a drive chain and sprocket assembly17 so that the support arm can be rotated on its longitudinal axis in acontrolled manner. This support arm 13 protrudes beyond the periphery ofthe turntable 12 and normally an inner drive shaft 18 is suitablyjournaled within the support arm 13 and extends from both ends thereof.Drive means 19, connecting to a motor 20, positioned on the turntable 12operatively engages the drive shaft 18 to rotate it internally of thesupport arm 13 and independently thereof.

While details of the connecting means are not fully shown in theattached drawings, a mold support means 21 is operably attached to theradially outer end of the drive shaft 18 and extends perpendicularly tothe longitudinal axis of such drive shaft 18. A mold or mold supportplate 22 normally is attached to each operable end of the mold supportmeans 21 for rotation around the axis of such mold support means. Anysuitable or conventional means are used for securing the mold supportmeans 21 to the end of the support arm 13 and such means include a driveassembly for the mold support means. Thus, such support means areadapted to rotate the mold support means 21 on its own support axiswhile the entire unit of the mold and mold support means are in turnbeing rotated about the axis of the support arm 21 as a unit for amultiaxis article casting action.

The details of the novel and improved indexing and/or braking apparatusof the invention are best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 of the drawings, and astop means indicated as a whole by the numeral 30 is provided. Thesestop means 30 include a pair of plates 31 and 32 positioned in parallelrelationship to each other and where a plurality of guide and/or supportrolls or rollers 33, 34, 35 and 36 are present. Each of these rollers 33through 36 is mounted, as by a suitable bolt, shaft or pin 37 extendingbetween the plates 31 and 32, and operably secured thereto to form aunit therewith. As shown in FIG. 3, the rolls 33 through 36 arepositioned to have short arcuate peripheral portions protrude beyond themargins of the'associated plates 31 and 32 and with the rolls 33 and 34being in vertical alignment in one margin of the plates and the rolls 35and 36 being in vertical alignment in opposite margins of the plates. Asubframe 38 is provided and is suitably secured to the frame 11. Thissubframe 38 may include a plurality of vertically directed members suchas channels, angles, or the like, and which include verticallyextending, parallel spaced members 39 and 40 that are positionedimmediately adjacent and below the sup port arm 13 in its inoperativeposition in the machine of the invention at the mold-filling station.That is, when drive for the turntable of the machine 10 is terminated, asupport arm is adapted to be positioned directly above the centerlineprovided for the stop means 30 by an indexing action on the turntable.

Power actuation for the unit formed from the plates 31 and 32 isprovided by a conventional member, such as an air cylinder 41 that hasair inlet and outlet tubes 42 and 43 connecting thereto for drive of apiston (not shown) in the cylinder through a vertical path whereby apiston rod 44 at-' tached to the piston and which extends upwardly fromthe air cylinder 41 can be used for controlling the position of theplates 31 and 32. The piston 44 is shown engaged with an upper portionof the associated plates 31 and 32 by a pin and clevis means 45, orequivalent device.

At the upper ends of the plates 31 and 32, an additional pair of rollers46 and 47 are provided supported to protrude beyond the upper margins ofthe plates 31 and 32, as by support bolts, pins or shafts 48. Thus, therollers 46 and 47 are adapted toengage some diametrically extending orprotruding member, such as the member 50, shown on the support arm 13 inFIG. 3. This member 50 has a pair of diametrically opposed ears 51 and52 extending therefrom. The drive means associated with the support arm13 to rotate it in normal casting operations may include members such asa control cam 60, shown in FIG. 2, and a limit or stop switch 61 thatconnect to the drive means by members (not shown), whereby the switchwill terminate drive for the support arm 13 when the member 50 is in atleast an approximately horizontal position. At such time, themold'support means 21, on an axis usually perpendicular to the axisdefined by the cars 51 and 52 of the member 50 isin predeterminedposition whereby the positions of the molds carried by the mold supportmeans 21 can thus be accurately predetermined in relation to the axis ofthe support arm 13 'at the article removing and mold filling station.FIG. 3

indicates in dotted lines a position for the, member 50 when it isstopped but is not exactly in a horizontal plane, but the stop means 30will automatically index or rotate the support arm 13 slightly in itssupport means when the rollers 46 and 47 engage with one or both of thecars 51 and 52 whereby a slight out-of-positioning of the support armfor mold opening or filling action will be automatically corrected bythe apparatus of the invention. Naturally any conventional power orcontrol means can be provided for control of air supply to and from theair cylinder 41 to cause vertically upward movement thereof for engagingthe stop means' with the member 50 on the supportarm 13 at proper times.

The drawings show that the member 50 is diametrically split and it hastwo pairs of key slots 55 formed therein whereby keys 56 can engage withslots 57 in the periphery of the support arm and'either pair of the twosets of diametrically opposed lrey slots 55 to secure the member 50 tothe support arm 13. Hence, the ears 51 and 52 thus can be positioned ina horizontal plane when the molds on the mold support means 21 arepositioned in either, for example, horizontal plane or planes or whenthe molds are invertical planes. Capscrews 58 secure the member 50toithe support arm 13 to encompass the same.

FIG 4 shows a slight modification of the machine of FIG. 1 wherein asupport arm 13a is provided and in this instance, preferably a collar 70is secured to the support arm 13 by any conventional capscrews orequivalent means 71 to provide an increased circumference by this member70 on the support arm.

In thisinstance, a modified stop means 30a is provided by the inventionand plates 314 or equivalent member in the apparatus suitably support astrip or block of brake lining means 80 on the upper surface of the stopunit. Such brake lining or brake block means 80 is contoured to aconcave shape complementary to the peripheral surface of the member 70.Thus, when an air cylinder 41a orequivalent means is actuated to forcethe stop means 300 up into engagement with the support arm 13a and/orthe member 70 thereon, such support arm can be stoppedor braked to asubstantially instantaneous stop position. Therefore, the rotaryposition of the support arm in its journal means can be varied wherebythe molds operatively carried thereby can be stopped in any desiredposition in relation to the axis of the support arm 13a.

From the foregoing, it is believed thata novel and improved indexing andbrake means has been provided in a rotational casting machine so thatthese members will provide an automatically indexed or stopped positionfor molds carried in the machine so that these molds can be readilyopened, serviced,

cleaned, filled and reused' Naturally the remainder of the castingmachine 10, not shown, can be of any known construction. The apparatusof the invention is sturdy and will have good operative life. Thus theobjects of the invention have been v achieved.

While two complete embodiments of the invention have 7 been disclosedherein, it will be appreciated that modification of theseparticularembodiments of. the invention may be a stop means adjacent said supportarm when at said mold processing station, a subframe means positioningsaid stop means for movement to and from engagement with a peripheralportion of said support arm, a member having an irregular periphery onsaid support arm, roller means operatively carried by said stop means atspaced, top portions thereof for engagement with portions of said memberto prevent rotation of said support arm when said stop means is engagedtherewith, and power means operatively engaging said subframe means tomove it and said stop means to and from engagement with said supportarm; 2. In a rotational casting machine as in claim I, the improvementcomprising said member including diametrically extending means on theperiphery thereof and extending therefrom in opposite directionsperpendicular to the axis of said support arm, and said roller meanscomprising a pair of rollers positioned to be engageable with saiddiametrically extending means to stop rotation of said support arm andto position said mold support means in predetermined relation to theaxis of said support arm.

3. In a multiaxis rotational casting machine including a frame, a driventurntable operably carried by said frame, a

driven support arm joumaled on-said turntable and extending therefrom,and mold support means operably carried by said support arm, theimprovement comprising a stop means adjacent said support arm at oneposition thereof, a subframe means positioning said stop means formovement to and from engagement with a peripheral portion of saidsupport arm, I i

a member having projections on theperiphery thereof secured to saidsupport arm, p engaging means operatively carried by said stop means ata top portion thereof for engaging at least one of said projections onsaid member to prevent rotation of said support arm when said stop meansis engaged therewith, and

power means operatively engaging said subframe means to move it and saidstop means to and from engagement with said support arm. 1 I

4. In a rotational casting machine as in claim 1, the improvementcomprising said member being a diametrically split band member securedto and encompassing said support arm and having diametrically opposedears thereon, said stop means being positioned in radial alignment withsaid band member, said engaging means having laterally spaced membersthereon for engaging said ears to move said support arm arcuately to apredetermined position and lock it therein.

5. In a rotational casting machine as in claim 3, the improvementcomprising said engaging means including a pair of laterally spacedroller means thereon for engaging projections on said member to indexsaid support arm in a predetermined, fixed, arcuate position.

6. In a rotational casting machine including a frame, a turntableoperably carried by said frame, a driven support arm joumaled on saidturntable and extending therefrom, and mold support means operablycarried by said support arm on a diametrically split band member securedto and encompassing said support arm and having diametrically opposedears thereon, said stop means being positioned in radial alignment withsaid band member, said stop means having laterally spaced membersthereon for engaging said ears to move said support arm arcuately to apredetermined position and lock it therein.

1. In a multiaxis rotational casting machine including a frame, a driventurntable operably carried by said frame, a driven support arm journaledon said turntable and extending therefrom, said turntable being indexedto stop at a mold-processing station, an inner drive shaft journaled insaid support arm and extending therefrom, and mold support meansoperably carried by said support arm on an axis perpendicular to theaxis of said support arm and rotatable on such axis, the improvementcomprising a stop means adjacent said support arm when at said moldprocessing station, a subframe means positioning said stop means formovement to and from engagement with a peripheral portion of saidsupport arm, a member having an irregular periphery on said support arm,roller means operatively carried by said stop means at spaced, topportions thereof for engagement with portions of said member to preventrotation of said support arm when said stop means is engaged therewith,and power means operatively engaging said subframe means to move it andsaid stop means to and from engagement with said support arm.
 2. In arotational casting machine as in claim 1, the improvement comprisingsaid member including diametrically extending means on the peripherythereof and extending therefrom in opposite directions perpendicular tothe axis of said support arm, and said roller means comprising a pair ofrollers positioned to be engageable with said diametrically extendingmeans to stop rotation of said support arm and to position said moldsupport means in predetermined relation to the axis of said support arm.3. In a multiaxis rotational casting machine including a frame, a driventurntable operably carried by said frame, a driven support arm journaledon said turntable and extending therefrom, and mold support meansoperably carried by said support arm, the improvement comprising a stopmeans adjacent said support arm at one position thereof, a subframemeans positioning said stop means for movement to and from engagementwith a peripheral portion of said support arm, a member havingprojections on the periphery thereof secured to said support arm,engaging means operatively carried by said stop means at a top portionthereof for engaging at least one of said projections on said member toprevent rotation of said support arm when saiD stop means is engagedtherewith, and power means operatively engaging said subframe means tomove it and said stop means to and from engagement with said supportarm.
 4. In a rotational casting machine as in claim 1, the improvementcomprising said member being a diametrically split band member securedto and encompassing said support arm and having diametrically opposedears thereon, said stop means being positioned in radial alignment withsaid band member, said engaging means having laterally spaced membersthereon for engaging said ears to move said support arm arcuately to apredetermined position and lock it therein.
 5. In a rotational castingmachine as in claim 3, the improvement comprising said engaging meansincluding a pair of laterally spaced roller means thereon for engagingprojections on said member to index said support arm in a predetermined,fixed, arcuate position.
 6. In a rotational casting machine including aframe, a turntable operably carried by said frame, a driven support armjournaled on said turntable and extending therefrom, and mold supportmeans operably carried by said support arm on an axis perpendicular tothe axis of said support arm, the improvement comprising a stop meansadjacent said support arm, means positioning said stop means formovement to and from engagement with said support arm, power meansoperatively engaging said stop means to move it to and from engagementwith said support arm to prevent rotation of said support arm when saidstop means is engaged therewith, and a diametrically split band membersecured to and encompassing said support arm and having diametricallyopposed ears thereon, said stop means being positioned in radialalignment with said band member, said stop means having laterally spacedmembers thereon for engaging said ears to move said support armarcuately to a predetermined position and lock it therein.